Kolo Toure wants to quit Manchester City after less than a season at Eastlands.

It is another stunning blow for beleaguered City, and is the first problem new boss Roberto Mancini will inherit as he succeeds Mark Hughes.

Toure’s advisers have been hawking the defender to several Spanish clubs.

Toure joined City only in July in a £12million deal from Arsenal. And when long-serving Richard Dunne was forced to join Aston Villa after being told he was surplus to requirements,

Hughes made the 28-year-old his new captain.

Reports from Spain suggest Toure has failed to settle in the North West. And representatives acting on his behalf have approached both Barcelona and Real Madrid about the possibility of a deal being struck when the transfer window reopens in the New Year. Toure’s big attraction is that he is free to play in the Champions League.

His brother Yaya is at Barcelona, although he has been linked to a move to City after becoming disillusioned with life at the Nou Camp.

It remains to be seen whether Toure is an attractive proposition to either of Spain’s biggest two clubs, given City were the only ones to register an interest when Arsenal said they were willing to sell.

It is unlikely that new booss Mancini will allow Toure to move on as he bids to get City back on track.

Toure will be heading for the African Nations Cup later this month just as City find themselves struggling defensively.

Joleon Lescott is faced with a two-month lay-off after a knee operation. And both Micah Richards and Nedum Onuoha have failed to prove that they can fill the void in central defence.

Sunday Mirror Sport revealed last week that City will be following up their interest in West Ham’s £10m-rated skipper Matthew Upson in the January transfer window and Lescott’s injury has intensified the need for defensive reinforcements.

The news Toure is unsettled will not help Mancini as he takes the helm at Eastlands and bids to claim the top-four place in the Premier League demanded by Sheikh Mansour.